Social Support Rating Scale

Xiao Shuiyuan and colleagues developed the SSRS in 1986 and revised it in 1990. It is China's most widely used social support assessment. The original instrument has 10 main items; this site shows 14 response entries because the family-support section is divided into five separate questions. It assesses subjective support, objective support, and use of support. The scale helps evaluate support networks, provides an indicator of mental health, assesses support interventions, and supports epidemiological research. Strong support can protect physical and mental health and buffer stress, while unhealthy relationships can harm health.

Subjective support (items 1 and 3–9) describes feeling respected, supported, and understood and being satisfied with that support—for example, feeling that most neighbors care about you. Objective support (items 2 and 10–11) describes tangible resources, including direct material or practical help and the presence of a social network. Use of support (items 12–14) describes actively talking about problems, asking for help, and joining group activities, reflecting the ability to obtain and use support. The dimensions are related but distinct and together describe the support system.

The SSRS uses different response formats, with ratings of 1–4 or 0–9. In this site's 14-entry layout, subjective support is the sum of items 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Objective support is the sum of items 2, 10, and 11, and use of support is the sum of items 12, 13, and 14. The total is the sum of all three dimensions, ranging from 12–66. University student norms give a mean of 34.56 and standard deviation of 3.73. The site's displayed score bands are ≤20 for low support, 21–30 moderately low, 31–40 moderate, 41–50 moderately high, and 51–66 high. Higher scores indicate stronger support. A markedly low score in one area suggests where support could be strengthened.

The SSRS suits adolescents and adults with at least lower-secondary education. Uses include counseling, support assessment for people with chronic illness, mental health screening, intervention evaluation, and epidemiological research. It has been used with students, workers, patients, and older adults. It assesses general support rather than one particular source, is influenced by current circumstances, and captures something that changes with time and environment. Young people may prefer the age-specific ASSS.

For subjective support, reconsider how you perceive others' help, practice gratitude, notice care, and deepen emotional connections. For objective support, build and maintain relationships, join community activities or interest groups, and stay in touch with family and friends. For support use, practice talking about problems and asking for help, work through reluctance to trouble others, and join activities with mutual support. Maintain current support by staying in touch, expressing thanks, and helping others in turn. If family or friendship support is limited, consider counseling, social workers, or support groups.

Consider professional help if your SSRS total is below 20 with very low subjective and objective support; support use is below 4 and asking for help is difficult; limited support causes marked loneliness or helplessness; you face major stress such as loss or illness without support; or you also experience clear depression or anxiety symptoms. Counseling can identify barriers, teach relationship skills, address interpersonal difficulties, build alternative networks, and help you use support more effectively. The SSRS does not replace diagnosis, and support can improve with effort.